2nd Annual West Africa Trade & Commodity Finance Conference

Event Review

Now in its second year, Exporta's Annual West Africa Trade & Commodity Finance Conference successfully took place in London on November 3-4, bringing together around 180 leading trade and commodity leaders from both the West Africa region and from the continent's various global trading partners, to consider the vast potential for doing business and the challenges faced.

A lively crowd of high level bankers, corporates, lawyers, insurers and commodity specialists gathered in the centre of London's Mayfair to discuss requirements for conducting business, hurdles to be overcome and the perception of risk that prevents many from realising the tremendous opportunities available in natural resouces among other sectors.

Over the course of the two days delegates discussed a wide range of issues, including the role of international banks in complimenting the local market, developments in well-established sectors such as Nigerian oil, opportunity and risk within the Francophone countries, the role of Chinese investment, new financing models and perhaps most crucially the demand for structured trade finance and whether there is sufficient appetite for banks to meet local financing needs.

Day One featured a special evening reception, providing the opportunity for delegates to continue their discussions well into the evening in a more informal setting.

Description

Drawing on the success of the inaugural West Africa Trade & Commodity Finance Conference (November 2009) in London, Exporta will reconvene in November 2010 for its 2nd annual gathering of West Africa trade and commodity finance leaders, to discuss the numerous commercial opportunities available within this thriving region.

With commodity prices and the flow of key goods and services throughout the continent a leading global issue, the conference will be extended to two days, covering a range of issues and utilising a proven format that incorporates detailed case studies, lively panel discussion and informal networking sessions, as well as an evening reception.

As well as regional leaders such as Nigeria and Ghana, the conference will cover the many emerging trade markets within West Africa, as well as addressing inter-regional trade with other leading markets such as India and China.

A range of topics will be discussed throughout the course of the two days, including:

• Untapping the region's vast potential as a global trade leader
• Political risk considerations and their impact on market appetite
• Commodities: comparing the volatility of oil prices with soft commodities such as cocoa and sugar
• Structured trade deals: apart from Cocobod where are they?
• Corporate perspectives: new attitudes in plugging liquidity gaps
• The growth of Islamic finance and adoption of Shariah-compliant financing models
• The role of collateral warehousing and concerns over efficiency and transparency 
• How have recent banking reforms impacted on the appeal of West Africa to investors?
• Trade challenges faced in crossing the Anglophone-Francophone divide

Who should attend?

• Financiers
• Exporters
• Importers
• Local and international banks
• Commodity traders
• Insurers
• Export credit agencies
• Multilaterals
• Lawyers
• Consultants
• Market analysts
• Policy advisors

Event Photos

Brochure

Programme

Day One

08.00 Registration and refreshments

09.00 Chairman’s opening remarks
Tosin Adewuyi, Executive Director, Head of Trade Finance Africa, J.P. Morgan

09.15 Keynote: Realising the full potential of West Africa
Peter Banner, Chairman, Business Council for Africa (BCA)
• Challenges faced in restructuring economies to boost trade
• Breaking out of the regional base: Expanding trade and exports throughout the continent
• The important role of public auditing and regulators in rebuilding trust in the market
• Coping with decreasing demand and declining prices for western exports

09.45 Panel discussion: What is the diagnosis for trade in the region?
Moderator: Jean-Louis Ekra, President, Afreximbank
Anne-Marie Woolley, Director & Head of Trade Finance, Africa, Standard Bank
Tosin Adewuyi, Executive Director, Head of Trade Finance Africa, J.P. Morgan
Michael Marnell, Head, Metals & African Origination, Nedbank Capital
Sameer Mohan Sehgal, Managing Director & Trade Head, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Citi
Christian Karam, Head of Africa Desk, SMBC Europe
• Considering the availability of trade finance and appetite for risk
• Considering approaches taken to cope with declining trade flows
• How the supply of financing has decreased as banks try to conserve capital
• Risk allocation through differing methods of payment
• Addressing foreign exchange concerns for importers and exporters

10.45 Networking break

11.15 Support mechanisms for maximising trade in the African environment
Jorim Schraven, Manager, Financial Institutions Africa, FMO
• The role of DFI investment in complementing the trade finance model
• Providing examples of successful guarantee programmes and best practice recommendations
• Partnering initiatives between multilaterals and financial institutions to provide liquidity

11.45 Panel discussion: Tracking developments within the oil sector
Moderator: Guillaume Leenhardt, Deputy Head of Energy & Commodity Finance, BNP Paribas
Guillaume Arditti, Managing Director, Global Energy & Commodities, Structured Debt, Energy, Natixis
John Adet Esiegbuya, Executive Director, Finance, Lonestar Group
Ronke Sokefun, Chief Legal Officer, Oando
Henry Morris, Head, Structured Debt & Project Finance, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)
• Comparing the volatility of oil prices with soft commodities such as cocoa and sugar: How much speculation is in the pricing?
• Security and political risk concerns throughout the Niger Delta region and the impact of new regulations
• The important role of oil-hungry markets such as Asia in driving regional export growth
• Provision of financial investment incentives and challenges faced when operating in the region
• Diversifying economies: The role of oil revenues in aiding development of other core infrastructure

12.45 Lunch

14.00 Outlining a different approach to collateral management in Africa
Andrew Barr-Sim, Managing Director, Drum Resources
Aidan Applegarth, Banking & Management Consultant, Bankingwise
• Analysing independence of operations and negotiating complex legal structures
• Pricing, staffing and fulfillment of responsibilities
• Ensuring provision of the correct insurances to fulfill obligations
• What has gone wrong in Africa in the past?
• Third time lucky? The relevance of current Basel II and future Basel III proposals on STF and SCF

14.35 What you need to know about doing deals in Nigeria & Ghana
Alex Monk, Partner, Infrastructure and Commodity Finance, DLA Piper
James Willcock, Solicitor, Infrastructure and Commodity Finance, DLA Piper
• Focusing on key developments within the oil sector and the challenges faced
• Best practice case studies on deal structuring and avoiding disputes
• Potential hurdles posed by increased Anglophone-Francophone integration

15.05 Francophone Africa: An attractive proposition
Paul-Harry Aithnard, Group Head, Research, Ecobank
• Highlighting those countries defined as Francophone and the trade opportunities they provide
• Showcasing ‘best prospect’ industrial sectors within an ever developing market
• Regional cooperation: Harmonisation of local regulations and the positive impact for doing business

15.35 Networking break

16.05 Telecoms and ports in West Africa
Michael Kenny, Partner, Watson, Farley & Williams
Mark Wandless, Partner, Watson, Farley & Williams
• Financing telecoms in West Africa: Some legal considerations
• Nigerian telecoms financings: A case study
• Ports and terminals in West Africa: Doing business in a riskier sector
• Due diligence: Analysing and mitigating risks in ports and terminals deals

16.45 Panel discussion: Assessing the capability of local banking infrastructure
Moderator: Ian Henderson, Director, Texel Finance
Tony Uzoebo, Business Development, Zenith
Christiana Etukudo-Fashogbon, Executive Director, Business Development, FBN Bank UK
Banjo Adegbohungbe, Global Head, Global Trade Services, Access Bank
Okey Oramah, Executive Vice President, Afreximbank
• How have recent reforms and transparency initiatives impacted on the region’s investment appeal?
• Tracking increases in portfolio and growth in market share for local banks blessed with liquidity
• Considering how withdrawal of credit lines from western banks has impacted on supply-demand
• Reforming risk management cultures and improving loan security measures

17.35 Concluding remarks followed by evening reception

Day Two

08.30 Coffee and networking

09.00 Chairman’s remarks
Anne-Marie Woolley, Director & Head of Trade Finance, Africa, Standard Bank

09.10 Regional focus: Risks and opportunities for investment in natural resources
Natznet Tesfay, Deputy Head of Africa Forecasting, Exclusive Analysis
• Assessing the impact of government instability on Cote d’Ivoire’s thriving agribusiness sector
• How will the transition to relative stability aid Sierra Leone’s mineral exports?
• Tracking development opportunities in Guinea’s oil, bauxite, diamond, iron ore and gold deposits

09.40 Political risk in West African mining
Elizabeth Stephens, Head of Credit & Political Risk Analysis, Jardine Lloyd Thompson
Rupert Boyle, Associate, Credit, Political & Security Risks, Jardine Lloyd Thompson
• Analysing political risk in West Africa
• The illusion of 'good' versus 'bad' countries
• Developing a "political risk strategy"
• Tailoring PRI requirements to meet different challenges
• Effective risk distribution

10.20 West Africa: Is inter-regional trade the new panacea for exporters?
George Otieno, Chief Executive Officer, Africa Trade Insurance Agency (ATI)
Louis-Habib Deloncle, Chairman, Garant Insurance
• How are inter-regional trade facilitation initiatives such as simplifying paperwork at ports and reducing customs posts on borders helping reduce business hurdles?
• Highlighting local initiatives and how they are designed to protect local exporters against trade credit risks
• The World Bank Africa Competitiveness Report 2009: What are the common barriers to business?

11.00 Networking break

11.30 Considering the growth of Chinese investment into Africa
Kissy Agyeman-Togobo, Partner, Songhai Advisory
• Outlining trends in Chinese investment into key sectors such as mining, energy and infrastructure
• Highlighting the main drivers of Chinese growth and how Africa is meeting that demand
• Examining China's overall Africa policy and recent shifts as a result of domestic and external pressures

12.00 Capital markets: Raising funds through the use of trade receivables or commodities
Charles Gundy, Managing Director, North Face Consulting
• Using trade receivables or commodities to back a capital markets debt issue
• Accessing low cost asset-backed commercial paper conduits funding
• Providing African companies with an invaluable introduction to capital market investors
• Diversifying funding by  tapping a new and flexible funding base

12.30 Structured trade panel discussion: Where are all the deals?
Moderator: Geoffrey Wynne, Partner, SNR Denton 
David Wightman, Director of Structured Trade Finance, Banco Espirito Santo
Ian Stern, Director of Structured Commodity Finance, Credit Agricole CIB
Chaste Nyilimana, Business Development Manager, Structured Trade & Commodity Finance, FBN Bank UK
Rupert Cutler, Associate Director, Special Risks, Miller Insurance
• Volatile soft commodity prices and their impact on negotiating trade arrangements
• Moving beyond the Cocobod and Sonangol models as examples of SCF in the region
• Structuring and sourcing financing for local traders and producers
• Meeting borrower liquidity demand: How is the banking sector coping?
• Opportunities for non-bank lenders and financiers within the marketplace

13.30 Close of conference followed by networking lunch

Venue

Accommodation

Delegates are responsible for the arrangement and payment of their own travel and accommodation.

Upon registering to attend this event, Exporta will inform you of how to book your accommodation at the Millennium Hotel.

Sponsors

Sponsorship opportunities including exhibition stands are available for this event.

To become a sponsor, please contact Tom Whitehead, Head of Sponsorship Sales at twhitehead@exportagroup.com.

Exporta's events have a global reputation, renowned for superb networking opportunities and educational presentations by high-profile speakers.

Time after time our events attract the leading companies in our market as sponsors.

See below for a full list of our Event Sponsors, Institutional Partners and Media Partners and click on the logo to visit their web site. 

Delegate Packs